Athletes from completely different elements of the nation will arrive in Asaba, the Delta State capital on Monday (at the moment) and tomorrow forward of the opening ceremony of the twenty first Nationwide Sports activities Competition on Wednesday.
Delta gained the bid to host the fiesta, which is Nigeria’s model of the Olympics, on the finish of the final version in Benin Metropolis in Edo State final yr.
Since then, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who’s the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Occasion in subsequent yr’s election, has put a number of constructions in place to understand his dream of holding one of the best Video games ever within the historical past of Nigerian sports activities.
Among the many services constructed for the Video games are two new indoor sports activities halls, a swimming pool, tartan tracks and a taking pictures vary, all inside the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, in addition to a brand new hockey floor at Okpanam.
New hostels have additionally been constructed on the NYSC camp in Issele-Uku and colleges in Asaba.
The co-chairman of the Native Organizing Committee of the Video games, Tonobok Okowa, confirmed that Delta is able to host the Video games.
When requested concerning the LOC’s degree of preparedness, Okowa merely replied, “We’re prepared.”
A complete of 11,000 athletes will take part within the 2022 Delta Nationwide Sports activities Competition, which is about 2,000 greater than the quantity that participated within the final version held in Edo State.
Secretary of the native organizing committee, Chris Anazia, stated: “We’re able to obtain athletes from numerous states on Monday and Tuesday. The opening ceremony will happen on Wednesday. I’m certain that athletes, coaches and sports activities directors will get pleasure from their keep in Delta. I want everybody a secure journey to Asaba. We won’t solely host a sports activities competition, however one of the best within the historical past of the Video games.”
In the meantime, the competition’s Torch of Unity, which is shifting throughout the nation, has arrived in Delta State. He’ll start a tour of all native authorities seats to provide the chairmen and officers of the council a really feel.
In keeping with the LOC Adviser, Solomon Ogba, the Competition Torch of Unity will arrive in Asaba on November 30, the day of the opening ceremony.
He stated: “The flag-raising ceremony of the Delta 2022 Nationwide Sports activities Competition will probably be held at 4pm on the opening day of November 30.”
The primary occasion for Asaba 2022 will probably be biking on Wednesday morning.